Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-18
CIMARRON.
Petition Of Oxen G.. Chase for Admis>
sion TO the House OF Representa-
lives frem a W0uId.be Territory
mr. Mills Wisely Suggests that There Is q
Question of Facts for the House to
Investigate Before Acting.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Tne following
is the u xt OF the petition presented in
the House yesterday regarding the admis-
sion of Owen G. Chase, who claims to be
elected delegate from the territory OF
Cjmarron:
Mr.. Springer-Mr. Speaker, desire to
present to the House Of Represents tives
the petition of Owen G. Chase, who
territory of Cimarron. The petition will
long ask thrt it be read for the informa-
ton of the House.
There being no objection, the petition
was read, as follows:
To the House of Representatives of the United
States:
The undersigned, a citizen of the Uni
ted States and a resident of Cimarron
territory, commonly called "Tne Public
Land Strip" respectfully begs leave to
submit to the House of Representatives
that there are now at least 10, 900 Ameri-
can citizens who are bona fide settlers in
the said territory; that they are without
the protection Of local or general laws;
that they have been compelled by the ne
cessities of their situation to establish,
and they have established and are main
tanning, provisional government, by
and for the people, in form truly repub
lican, for their common protection, safety
and welfare. The justification for the es-
Establishment of this government over q
part of the public domain Of the United
States must rest upon the necessities of
a great community of American citizens
otherwise without public law, the well
recognized obligation of self protection
and defense, and the inalieneble right Of
local self government.
The public land strip was acquired
from Texas in 1850. 1t is bounded on
the east by the Cherokee outlet, on the
south by the Panhandle of Texas, on tia
west by the Territory of New Mexico, aud
on the north by Colorado and Kansas.
It contains 576l squsre miles, or
$751; s4 acres of excellent agricultural
lands. It is well watered with deep run.
ming streams OF soft, fresh water. 1t
contains exhaustless qusrries OF building
stone, marble, chalk, and bituminous
cUal.
1t is q natural fruit garden, where
grapes, plums, and other fruits grow
wild and of very superior quality. The
people are law loving and law abiding,
and will never consent to harbor thieves
and desperadoes.
In November, 1886, petition was cir
culated and numerodsly signed by lead
ing citizens, appointing public meeting
to convene at Beaver, November 20, 1886.
The meeting was attended by large pro-
portion OF the people, and q code of by
laws was adopted, and resolutions unani-
mously Endorsed appointing an election
to be held February %, 1887, TO elect
nine councilmen (three from each meri
dian distrlcO, who should meet in Beaver
March I, 1887, to act as territorial
council and adopt such measures IS in
their Judgment, might seem best; and TO
organize some form of government.
At the appointed time seven of the nine
councilmen assembled, canvassed ill the
lection returns, and it appearing that
two councilmen had been elected who
were ineligible, their places were flied
by the selection Of the two receiving the
next highest number OF votes.
The council then organized by electing
o. G. Chase president and Merrett Ma
gam as secretary. The usual oath hay
adopted dividing the territory into three
lal olSll lCLS wv NIU
seven delegate districts by township lines;
and another election ordered to come off
November S, 1887, for the election OF nine
senatorial councilmen and fourteen dele
gate councilmen from their respective
districts.
The first council passed laws or acts
the rights OF matrimony, chat
tel mortgages, mechanics liens, ETC., all
of which have been duly respected and
enforced so far as made known.
Such publication of the laws and acts OF
the territorial Legislature was made as
the best facilities OF the territory allowed.
Public schools have been established,
churches organized, and every possible
effort made by the people,in their primary
capacity, to prepare for legal territorial
government.
At the election held to elect represen-
tative In Congress your petitioner re-
ceived q majority of all the votes cast,
and the representatives to the senatorial
snd legislative council were again elected
Returns of the second election, as will
be seen by the printed documents here
with submitted, were made to the secre-
tary of the first council, with view Of
being c.nvassed by the incoming council
From the returns made in regular
form, all on printed blanks, 1t appears
that the second election was conducted
regularly, and twenty-three good repre-
men were elected-nine seno-
tors and fourteen delegates.
The new council convened at Beaver
December 5, 1887, aud is therefore in ses-
sion at this time. From time to time the
will be glad to lay before
Congress its legislative actions for infor-
nation.
The proceedings leading up to the fnal
of this provisional govern
nent were peaceful and orderly; were
participated in by, practically, all the
people, and at every step were marked by
he sanction OF q voluntary oath to sup
bort the constitution of the United
States. They are in perfect accord and
harmony with the principles OF territorial
Congress, and are the patriotic and con-
'cientious work of lew-abidisg people,
devoted to the institutions Of their coup-
ry.
The formal record Of their proceedings
md Of the laws enacted by the provision
II council has been duly kept and pub
ished, and will be submitted hereafter.
In direct pursuance of the will Of the
people OF the territory, the undersigned
vas duly chosen as q delegare to the Fiji
ieth Congress, and he herewith presents |
he certificate of his election, atfested by
he adopted seal OF said territory and the |
signature of the territorial secretary.
Respectfully and humbly appealing for
such recognition as the House Of Repre-